Synonyms of prying

prying 1 of 4

adjective

ˈprī-iŋ 

1

as in curious

interested in what is not one's own business

as we moved into our new home, we could sense that there were prying eyes watching us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• curious
• inquisitive
• nosy
• interested
• questioning
• intrusive
• meddling
• officious
• meddlesome
• interfering
• concerned
• snoopy
• obtrusive
• interrogative
• inquisitorial
• quizzical
• inquisitional

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifferent
• disinterested
• incurious
• uninterested
• unconcerned
• uncurious
• apathetic

2

as in busy

thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited

prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business

Synonyms & Similar Words

• busy
• intruding
• intrusive
• nosy
• meddling
• officious
• interfering
• meddlesome
• annoying
• pushing
• obtrusive
• pushy
• snoopy
• protrusive
• presumptuous
• rude
• presuming
• invading
• impudent
• brazen
• curious
• insolent
• trespassing
• inquisitive
• bumptious
• impertinent
• harassing
• overbearing
• bold
• pestiferous
• superserviceable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unobtrusive
• silent
• quiet
• uninvolved
• withdrawn
• reclusive
• reticent
• retiring
• restrained
• taciturn
• reserved
• inhibited
• hands-off
• subdued

prying

2 of 4

noun

as in questioning

Related Words

• questioning
• interrogation
• inquiry
• interference
• concern
• wonderment
• attentiveness
• intrusiveness
• interest
• inquisitiveness
• regard
• obtrusiveness
• officiousness
• eavesdropping
• curiosity
• nosiness
• meddlesomeness
• curiousness
• rubbernecking

Dissimilar Words

• indifference
• disregard
• incuriosity
• incuriousness
• unconcern
• apathy
• disinterestedness

prying

3 of 4

verb (1)

present participle of pry

1

as in pulling

to raise, move, or pull apart with or as if with a lever

it took some effort to pry up the trap door

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pulling
• lifting
• breaking
• jimmying
• levering
• dividing
• elevating
• separating
• prizing
• shifting
• detaching
• hoisting
• disengaging
• uplifting
• parting
• breaking up
• disjoining

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• connecting
• joining

2

as in yanking

to draw out by force or with effort

a vain attempt to pry the cork out of a wine bottle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pulling
• yanking
• extracting
• plucking
• removing
• uprooting
• tearing (out)
• wringing
• taking (out)
• prizing
• wresting
• corkscrewing
• rooting (out)
• mining
• withdrawing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inserting
• installing
• instilling
• implanting
• stuffing
• jamming
• wedging
• ramming
• cramming

prying

4 of 4

verb (2)

present participle of pry

as in interfering

to interest oneself in what is not one's concern

don't go prying into other people's business

Synonyms & Similar Words

• interfering
• messing
• snooping
• poking
• intruding
• meddling
• intervening
• obtruding
• nosing
• intermeddling
• interloping
• invading
• butting in
• mucking (about or around)
• encroaching
• fooling
• interceding
• interposing
• tampering
• trespassing
• infringing
• fiddling
• playing
• monkeying
• barging (in)
• chiseling (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoiding
• ignoring
• shunning
• eschewing
• neglecting
• disregarding
• overlooking

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective prying contrast with its synonyms?

The words curious and inquisitive are common synonyms of prying. While all three words mean "interested in what is not one's personal or proper concern," prying implies busy meddling and officiousness.

prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business

When is it sensible to use curious instead of prying?

While in some cases nearly identical to prying, curious, a neutral term, basically connotes an active desire to learn or to know.

children are curious about everything

When is inquisitive a more appropriate choice than prying?

The words inquisitive and prying are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inquisitive suggests impertinent and habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing.

dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of prying

Adjective

But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying — and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves. — Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023

But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying -- and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves. — Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 4 Feb. 2023

The Google Nest Hub (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great smart display with no camera (and therefore no risk of unwanted prying eyes). — Brenda Stolyar and Medea Giordano, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2022

To my mind, however, there’s a difference between a Google or a Facebook, which provide valuable services in return for their prying eyes, and an app that serves a single, ostensibly benign purpose — parking validation. — Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2021

Carry two phones While anti-spy software may be effective in staving off the prying eyes of the Chinese government, not everyone knows how to install it. — Jane Li, Quartz, 6 Aug. 2019

Noun

The door’s handle had been broken off but the door did not have damage consistent with a break-in, such as prying or force marks, said Det. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026

If the convict can help transport the loot from that camp to a safe space far from the government’s prying eyes, the warden will punch his get-outta-jail-free card. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026

The guests themselves remained enshrouded in secrecy as black cars were seen driving into a large white tent, with the entrance set off by black curtains, shielding attendees from nearby prying eyes. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026

Meanwhile, celebrities opting for real-life mountain living include Tom Cruise with his staggering 298-acre mountain estate, as well as Oprah Winfrey, who both chose Telluride, Colorado to build in, live in and escape prying paparazzi. — Catherine Dunwoody, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Part of the Democratic disagreement comes from just how much attention to pay to media outlets’ prying, versus the power of the message. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 15 July 2026

The bathroom is encased with polycarbonate walls to let in light but keep out prying eyes. — Clio Chang, Curbed, 30 June 2026

It’s often viewed as a dumping ground for human refuse — out of sight, out of mind — and it is structured to prevent prying eyes. — Gerard S. Williams, Sun Sentinel, 21 June 2026

Following Guthrie's prying, Lopez eventually caved in with a concrete answer. — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 2 June 2026

Verb

Josh Downs, a 5-foot-9 slot receiver, had torched Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed off the line of scrimmage, prying himself open on a slant pattern to prolong the drive. — Sam McDowell 11, Kansas City Star, 11 Nov. 2026

At first there was just some casual small talk between them, then walks with their dogs, followed by dinners at pubs away from prying eyes and, finally, evenings spent cooking together. — Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 4 Nov. 2026

Or prying mussels off rocks along South Africa’s Cape Peninsula. — Rachel Levin, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026

Musk already has this via Larry, a close business associate who bankrolled the Twitter buy, but writing an eleven-figure check has a funny way of prying open the canal further. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026

Or two birds face-to-face in close proximity, covering themselves with their wings as if to share a secret kiss away from prying eyes, could evoke a giggle. — Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026

Davidson was thrust into a reality-TV world of prying paparazzi and untold media scrutiny. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

Accessing the internals requires prying off the PC’s rubber feet, which are glued over the screws that hold the detachable bottom of the case in place. — Michael Justin Allen Sexton, PC Magazine, 26 Sep. 2026

Vacations were a way for Diana to unwind and get away from prying eyes. — Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 26 Sep. 2026